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Emulation is the best flattery

DEC will make available software that allows Alpha-based systems to run applications built for Windows NT and 32-bit x86 platforms at Pentium Pro system speeds.

Digital Equipment (DEC) said today that it will make available software that allows Alpha processor-based systems to run applications built for Windows NT and 32-bit x86 platforms at speeds greater than or comparable to high-end Pentium Pro systems.

Digital FX!32, which has been in beta testing since November of 1995, will be officially released in late October, according to the company.

According to Digital, FX!32 runs applications for x86 PCs and Windows NT with a run-time emulator and a binary translator in the background, using a server to coordinate the activity. The company says that with each successive run of the nonnative software, the translator creates native Alpha instructions whenever possible so that less of the program is run in the slower emulation mode.

Digital FX!32, which runs under Windows NT 4.0, will be available free to Alpha users via Digital's Internet Roadmap CD-ROM, a technical support site on the Web, and it will also be factory-installed with Alpha NT systems.